Moorers to be evicted from ‘free’ moorings in Bath

Boat owners on ‘free’ moorings on the River Avon in the centre of Bath have been told to move their boats.

Concerns about sanitation, dumped rubbish and lack of insurance for some of the craft has led landowner, Bath & North East Somerset Council, to give notice to boat owners to leave moorings on the section of the River Avon in the centre of Bath between the upstream head of navigation at Pulteney Weir and the entrance to the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bath Locks.

Moorings on other adjacent sections of the Avon are controlled by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) and Bristol City Council as the navigation authorities, but this section of river bank, adjacent to Bath Rugby Club, comes under Bath & North East Somerset Council as the riparian landowner.

Boats have moored here without paying any charges but now the council plans to install electric and water facilities and charge for future use of the moorings.

It has led to protests from some of the boat owners who have been served with eviction notices to vacate the moorings. They took the case to appeal because the landowner did not wish to pursue the matter but a Planning Inspector’s decision has upheld the legality of the eviction notices.

Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and image.